Naples, Domenico Cirillo dies, the 17-year-old basketball player hit in Mergellina

Naples mourns Domenico, 17-year-old hit in Mergellina: second road victim in 2025

Domenico Cirillo, the 17-year-old who was hit last Saturday, February 1st, while crossing the pedestrian crossing on Viale Dohrn, near the chalets in Mergellina, passed away this afternoon.

After a week of agony, spent in reserved prognosis at Cardarelli, the boy did not make it. The news of his death threw his family, friends, classmates and the entire community of the Arturo Labriola high school in Fuorigrotta into despair, an institute that Domenico attended with profit and where he held the role of school representative.

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The tragic accident occurred when a Mini Cooper, driven by a 19-year-old, hit the young athlete, a player of the Napoli Basket Academy under 19. The driver, whose license was revoked and whose vehicle was seized, will have to answer for manslaughter.

 License revoked from 19-year-old driver who hit him

The investigations, coordinated by the accident section of the municipal police led by second lieutenant Vincenzo Cirillo, are still ongoing to reconstruct the exact dynamics of the events.

Domenico, a resident of Fuorigrotta, was a boy loved by all: a model student, a promising athlete and a generous young man, described by his friends as a bundle of cheerfulness and willpower.

In recent days, his classmates had gathered outside the school to show their support, displaying a banner that read: "Domenico, hold on." There were also many messages of encouragement on social media and requests for prayers from those who supported him until the last moment.

The young man was the nephew of Igino Nuzzo, municipal councilor of Santa Maria a Vico, and his grandmother Camilla Sgambato is from Santa Maria a Vico.

This is the greeting to the nephew of the municipal councilor and lawyer: “A golden boy who made you happy just by looking at him, and yet life and destiny decided so.”

Condolences from Napoli basketball

His death is a mourning for the entire city. Domenico is the second victim of the road in Naples since the beginning of the year, after the82 year old deceased at the Ospedale del Mare, following a scooter accident that occurred six days ago.

A double tragedy that turns the spotlight back on road safety and leaves an entire community in pain. Naples today mourns a son, a friend, a teammate: a boy who had his whole life ahead of him.